Crash in Afghanistan Claims Lives of Four Dyess Airmen

Four airmen from Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene were among 11 killed in a plane crash in Afghanistan October 2 when a C-130J crashed during its initial take-off from Jalalabad Airfield.

The “Super Hercules” cargo plane crashed just after midnight Friday Afghani time, which is early Friday morning in the states.

Initial reports do not hint at a cause for the crash, but the Central Command Area of Responsibility is investigating.

Six U.S. servicemembers, including the four Dyess airmen assigned to the 317th airlift group, along with five civilians. The names of the victims are being withheld at the time of posting until all family members have been notified.

“We are extending every available resource to comfort and care for the family and friends of our fallen heroes,” said 7th Bomb Wing commander COL Michael Bob Starr in a press release.

The C-130J Super Hercules model is manufactured by Lockheed Martin and has been in service since 1996.